Load binder



Nov. 16, 1965 H. G. LUCAS 3,

LOAD BINDER Filed Nov. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov. 16, 1965 H. G. LUCAS 3,218,031

LOAD BINDER Filed NOV- 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Harry G. Lucas BY f jww ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,218,031 LOAD BINDER Harry G. Lucas, 3232 Tivoli St., Jacksonville, Fla. Filed Nov. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 70,001 6 Claims. (Cl. 25475) The present invention relates to improvements in load binders for tightening a flexible retainer about a load such as logs, lumber and the like.

In transporting lumber, poles and the like, and particularly in hauling logs from wooded areas, it is customary to bind a number of logs or pieces of lumber together at several points by means of chains or cables which are tensioned and securely tightened around the logs by a device generally known as a log or load binder. Such a binder device basically embodies a lever actuated tightening linkage having hooks at opposite ends by means of which the ends or an intermediate portion of the flexible retainer are engaged to tightly draw the flexible retainer around the load to thereby secure the individual logs in place and to prevent the load from shifting while it is being transported.

Some of the conventional commercially available load binders are constructed to limit the tensioning or tightening of the flexible retainer about the load in only one direction of movement of the actuating lever. In usage of such single stroke or single-acting binders, it has been found that a single stroke actuation of the load binder lever is generally insuflicient to provide for the tension required to securely fasten the load in place particularly when the load is made up of resilient materials such as logs and other forms of lumber. As a consequence, it has been the custom to use at least two such load binders for alternately applying tension to secure the load and for holding the load in place while it is being secured. This procedure, it will be appreciated, requires a timeconsuming operation of the operator in addition to requiring a plurality of flexible load retainers and binder devices.

In order to overcome some of the shortcomings of the single stroke type of load binder devices, it has been proposed to provide for a double-throw or double-acting load-binder construction which is operable to tighten a load retaining chain around a load by sequential throws of the load binder lever in opposite directions. These double-throw load-binder constructions have a pair of draw hooks which are pivotally connected to the lever and which are advanceable one ahead of the other by swinging the lever in opposite directions between angularly spaced apart limiting positions. The draw hooks are alternately engaged with successive increments of the load retaining chain to incrementally take up the slack in the chain with each successive swing of the lever.

Such proposed double-throw load binders, however, do not have satisfactory means by which the load binder can be easily secured to maintain the load retaining chain in tensioned condition prior to a second tensioning operation. In particular, the force established in the load retainer by taking up the slack therein with these prior art double-throw load binders is continuously applied to the operating lever to urge the lever in a direction for releasing the tension in the load retainer. As a consequence, the operation of these prior art double-throw load binder devices is made inherently dangerous to the operator since the operating lever always has a tendency to snap-back to a tension-released condition with sudden movement and appreciable force depending upon the magnitude of the tension in the load retainer.

The present invention contemplates and has as its primary purpose an improved double-acting load binder which takes up the slack in a load securing chain or flexible retainer in successive increments by sequential swings 'ice of the binder lever in opposite direction wherein the lever is secured in place to maintain the tensioned condition of the flexible retainer solely by swinging the lever to either of its angularly spaced apart limiting positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for an improved double-acting load binder device having an operating lever which is pivotable to either one of two angularly spaced apart chain-tensioning positions and arranged to secure the lever in either of its tensioning positions by applying the tensioning force in the load retaining chain to the lever to oppose movement of the lever in a direction that releases the tension in the load retaining chain.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide for a novel double-acting binder device having an anchor hook engageable with one end of a flexible load retainer, a lever arm pivotally connected to the anchor hook for swinging movement between angularly spaced apart limiting positions, and a pair of draw hooks which are pivotally connected to the lever arm one on each side of the lever arm axis so as to be reversely and alternately advanced and retracted by sequential pivotal movement of the lever arm in opposite direction to engage and take up successive increments of the load retaining chain, wherein the pivot connections of the draw hooks are arranged relative to the lever arm pivot axis and to the chain such that the lever arm is secured against a tensionreleasing movement in either of its extreme limiting positions simply by a torque couple exerted on the lever arm by the tensioned condition of the load retainer.

A further object of the present invention is to provide for an improved double-acting load binder device which is simplified and rugged in construction and easily operated without peril to the operator.

Further objects of the present invention will presently appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a load secured by a load binding chain which is tensioned by a load binder device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the load binder device shown in FIGURE 1 with the operating lever positioned in its extreme clockwise chain tensioning position;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational View similar to FIGURE 2 but with the operating lever in an intermediate position between its extreme clockwise and counterclockwise chain tensioning throw positions;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the load binder shown in FIGURE 3 but with the lever arm shown in its extreme counterclockwise chain tensioning position;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view taken substantially along lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view taken substantially along line 66 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken substantially along line 77 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a section taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, a load 10 represented by a plurality of cut timber is shown bound preferably by a binder chain 12 drawn taut by a double acting load binder 14 constructed according to the principles of the present invention. As will presently become apparent, load 10 may also be secured by a cable or similar flexible retainer in place of chain 12.

With reference now to FIGURES 2 and 5, load binder 14 is shown to comprise a rigid one-piece lever 16 having a substantially straight handle section 18 and a bifurcated shank end 20 generally offset from and rigidly joined to handle 18 by an intermediate curved section 22. Shank 3 end 24 has a pair of fiat sided parallel spaced apart arms 24 and 25 (FIGURE which extend generally parallel in offset relationship to the longitudinal axis of handle section 18 and which form a longitudinal mouth 28 (FIG- URE 5) in generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of handle section 18.

As best shown in FIGURES 2-4 arms 24 and 2.6 are identically shaped, each having a heel portion 3t) and a toe portion 32 relatively offset one on each side of the longitudinal axis of handle section 13.

With continuing reference to FIGURES 2 and 5, a yoke member 34 having parallel spaced apart arms 36 and 38 integrally joined together by a cross piece 49 is rockably mounted on lever arm 16 by means of a pair of aligned pins 42 and 44 which are fixably secured in the heel portions 30 of arms 24 and 2s and which project outwardly in opposite directions from arms 24 and 26. Yoke arms 36 and 38 are respectively .pivotably supported on pins 4-2 and 44 so that yoke 34, as best shown in FIGURE 2-4, is freely swingable in both directions about an axis offset and normal to the longitudinal axis of handle section 13.

Cross piece 4% of yoke 34 is provided with a swivel 46 having an eyelet which is connected through chain links 48 to an anchor hook 5% Hook St is separably connected to a terminal link of chain 12 and, as will become apparent, hook 59 remains in engagement with chain 12 to serve as an anchor throughout tightening and releasing operations of binder 14.

In order to secure the opposite end of chain 12, separate draw hooks 52 and 54 are provided for. Hook 52 is connected through links 56 to a clevis 58 which is pivotally connected to one end of a draw bar till. At its other end, draw bar 65) extends into mouth 28 and is pivotally mounted between lever arms and 26 on a pin 62 which is fixedly secured to toe portions 32 of lever arms 24 and 26 along an axis extending normal to and offset to the right of the lever arm axis as viewed from FIGURE 2.

Draw hook 54 is connected through links 64 to a clevis 66 which is pivotally connected to one end of a draw bar 68 extending between lever arms 24 and 26 on the opposite side of the pivotal axis of yoke 34 from the pivotal axis of draw bar 6 The end of draw bar 68 extending into mouth 23 is pivotally mounted on a pin 76 extending transversely through mouth 28 and is fixedly secured to lever arms 24 and 26 along an axis extending parallel to the pivotal axes of yoke 34 and draw bar 69.

As best shown in FIGURE 2, draw bar pins 62 and '79 are approximately equidistantly spaced, one on each side of the pivotal axis of yoke 34 along a common transverse line extending generally parallel to but offset to the right of the longitudinal axis of handle section 18.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, yoke arms 36 and 38 are sufficiently elongated so that the toe ends 32 of lever 16 are freely swingable between yoke arms 36 and 38. Thus, it will be appreciated that lever 16 is pivotablc about the axis of yoke 34 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIGURE 2, to advance draw hook 54 downwardly and to retract draw hook 552 upwardly to their respective positions shown in FIGURE 4.

As best seen from the position of components illustrated in FIGURES 4, 6, and 7, clevis 58 has an overall width larger than that of mouth 23 and is provided with enlarged opposed boss portions 74 which extend, at both ends, beyond mouth 28 to abuttingly engage exposed edge surfaces 76 of lever arms 24 and 26 between heel portions 30 and pin 7%. In the position of parts shown in FIGURE 4 and with hooks 50 and 52 engaged with chain 312, linkage 55 is drawn taut by the tension in chain 12 to urge clevis bosses 74 into thrust bearing engagement with lever arm surfaces 76 to thereby arrest further counterclockwise rotation of lever 16.

From the position of parts shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, it will be appreciated that the lever arm toe portions 32 are rotatable from the right side of yoke 34- to the left side of yoke 34 by swinging lever 16 from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIG- URE 4 for a purpose as will become apparent.

In rotating lever to back to its extreme clockwise position from the position shown in FIGURE 4, draw pin 7i is rotated between the yoke arms 36 and 38 from the left side of yoke 34 to the right side thereof and into the position of components shown in FIGURE 2. In the position of parts shown in FIGURE 2, hook 54 is disengaged from chain 12 and lever in is limited against further clockwise movement by abutment of lever curved section 22 with the cross piece of yoke 34. When hooks 52 and 54 are engaged with chain 12, clockwise rotation of lever 16 is limited by clevis as which has an overall width larger than that of mouth 28 and which is provided with enlarged opposed boss portions 77 (FIG- URES 2 and 8) extending beyond mouth 28 and adapted to engage the lever arm edge surfaces 76. By pulling linkage 64 taut with the tension in chain 12, clevis boss portions 77 are urged into thrust bearing engagement with edge surfaces 76 thereby restraining further clockwise displacement of lever 16.

In the position of parts shown in FIGURES 4, 6 and 7, draw bar 68 is received in a groove 77a (FIGURES 5 and 7) formed in handle section ldand extending rearwardly of mouth 28. By this construction linkage 5d and hook 52 may extend generally vertically when the parts are positioned as shown in FIGURE 4 without interfering engagement with draw bar 68 or linkage 64.

In the operation of load binder 14, after load It) is encircled with chain 12, binder 14 is applied by initially engaging link 78 of chain 12 with anchor hook Stl. With lever 16 in its extreme clockwise position shown in FIG- I URE 2, chain 12 is stretched manually to the extent practicable and draw hook 52, extending below draw hook 54, is engaged with a link 36 of chain 12. By securing hook 5d and either book 52 or hook 54 to chain 12, the pivotal axis 42, 44 of yoke 34 is generally fixed in place along a line A to enable lever 16 to be rocked in either direction about the yoke pivot axis. As shown in FIGURES 2-6, line A extends through, the axis about which lever 16 is pivoted and is held in a generally stationary position by engaging either hook 52 or hook 54 and hook with chain 12. Since FIGURES 2-4 and FIGURES 5 and 6 are relatively otiset in elevation to show details of binder 16, line A is shown in broken form to conform to the elevation of each figure.

Lever 16 is then thrown or swung about the generally fixed pivot axis of yoke in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from FIGURES 2-4, to its extreme counterclockwise position shown in FIGURE 4. By this counterclockwise movement of lever 16, draw hooks 52 and 54 reverse vertical positions. Since the pivotal connection axis of draw bars 64} and 68 are respectively equidistantly spaced from and parallel to the axis of yoke 34 about which lever 16 is swung, draw hooks 52 and 54 respectively are advanced downwardly and retracted upwardly by equal distances. By this operation, the slack in chain 12 is taken up by a magnitude equal to the vertical upward displacement of draw pin 62 which is equal to substantially twice the linear distance indicated by the dimension X (FIGURES 2 and 4) extending between pin 6?. and the pivot axis of yoke 34.

At an intermediate position shown in FIGURE 3, in which lever 16 is disposed between its extreme clockwise and counterclockwise positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 respectively, a torque couple is created by tensioning chain '12 about load 'ltl and has oppositely directed forces shown by the vertical arrows acting through yoke 34 and the pivotal axis of draw bar so. This torque couple acts to swing lever in back to its extreme clockwise position shown in FIGURE 2, if lever 16 is released or ceases to have pressure applied thereto.

By continuing to swing lever 16 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin axis of yoke 34, draw pin 62 is swung to a position between yoke arms 36 and 38 where the oppositely acting forces exerted by chain 12 are substantially aligned to thereby cancel each other out. While it will be appreciated that binder 14 and chain 12 then assume a static position in which all of the forces are cancelled out to thereby enable the components of binder 14 and chain 12 to assume rest positions, the slightest jar or movement of load in transportation would tend to cause lever 16 to swing back in a clockwise direction thus creating a torque couple for moving lever 16 back to its extreme clockwise position of FIG- URE 2 with a resultant release of tension on the load retaining chain v12.

In order to firmly secure lever 16 in its extreme counterclockwise position and to prevent reverse movement thereof, lever 16 is swung to angularly shift draw pin 62 slightly to the left of yoke 34 which remains substantially in the vertical position shown in FIGURES 2-4 throughout the chain tightening operation of binder "14. By this movement, pin .62 is shifted from the right side of the yoke pivot axis 42, 44 to the left side thereof, thereby reversing the torque couple exerted by the tension in chain 12 to positively urge lever 16 in a counterclockwise direction.

Thus, it will be appreciated that the full force resulting from tightening chain 12 is now exerted to bring lever 16 into firm thrust bearing engagement with bosses '74 of clevis 58, thereby arresting further movement of lever 16. As a consequence, an increase in the tensioning force in chain 12 created by a shift in load 10 during transportation functions only to more firmly secure lever 16 in place by increasing the force which urges and maintains lever 16 in firm abutment with clevis 58.

After the operator has thrown lever 16 to its extreme counterclockwise position shown in FIGURE 4, draw hook 54 is engaged with a chain link 82 ahead of the engagement of draw hook 52 in link 80. By now swinging lever about the yoke pivot axis 42, 44 in a clockwise direction from the position shown in FIGURE 4, with both draw hooks 52 and 54 engaged with chain 12, the tension in the links of chain 12 between chain links 82 and 80 is released as draw hook 54 is retracted upwardly thereby shifting the tensioning force from draw hook 52 to draw hook 54.

As lever 16 is swung about its pivot axis back through the intermediate position shown in FIGURE 3, a torque couple resulting from the tension in chain 12 now acts to urge rotation of lever 16 in a counterclockwise direction against the manual force exerted by the operator on handle section 18. Since draw pin 70 is located in a portion of shank section 20 which is offset from handle section 18, it is swung about the yoke pivot axis 42, 44 to a position between yoke arms 36 and 38 where the force arms of the torque couple urging lever 16 in a counterclockwise direction is reduced to a negligible magnitude, thereby establishing a static force condition in the load binder.

By further clockwise angular displacement of lever 16, draw pin 70 is shifted slightly to the right of yoke 34 and yoke axis 42, 44 as shown in FIGURE 2 where a torque couple now is established to urge lever 16 in a clockwise direction. The movement of lever 16 in a clockwise direction as a result of the torque couple is arrested by abutting engagement of clevis bosses 77 with lever arms 24 and 26 to thereby firmly secure lever .16 against further movement in either direction.

In the process of swinging lever 16 in a clockwise direction, the slack in chain 12 is further reduced by an amount equal to twice the linear distance between draw pin 70 and the axis of yoke pins 42 and 44 which is indicated by the dimension Y in FIGURES 2 and 4. With lever 16 secured in its extreme clockwise position shown in FIGURE 2, draw hook 52 is readily and easily disengaged from chain link since the tension on chain 12 is held by draw hook '54 and since the section of chain links between links 80 and 82 is slack. Thereafter, draw hook 52 may be engaged again with a chain link ahead of link '82 and the tightening operation repeated by swinging lever 16 again in a sequential counterclockwise direction. By this operation, it will be appreciated that the slack in chain 12 is taken up in increments by taking successive bites alternately with hooks 52 and 54 until all of the slack in chain '12 is eliminated and the desired degree of tension in chain 12 is attained to securely hold load 10 in place.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides for a double-acting load binder of relatively simple and rugged construction which is capable of increasing the tension applied to chain 12 or other cable-like flexible load retainer. By means of the novel double draw hook construction, the slack in chain 12 is capable of being taken up by sequential throws of lever 16 in both directions and the binder is secured in either of its extreme chain-tensioning throw positions solely by movement of lever 16. It will be appreciated that the locking action attained by shifting the relationships of the draw pin axes with respect to the lever pivot axis is increased in magnitude in correspondence with increases in the tension of chain 12. The force exerted by the tension in chain 12 in cooperation with the relative offset positions of the draw pin axes 62 and 70 to the lever pivot axis 42, 44 serves to produce a torque couple which lockingly maintains lever 16 in firm thrust bearing engagement with the abutment surfaces on clevis 66 or clevis 58 when lever 16 is respectively swung to its ex treme clockwise and counterclockwise chain tightening positions.

In lockingly securing the lever 16 in place after a tightening operation by simply throwing lever -16 to either of its extreme tensioning positions, the necessity of lock pins and other locking arrangements requiring the attention of the operator are obviated and the operator may disengage the untensioned draw hook with assurable safety and without releasing the tension established in chain '12. Since the tension on the draw hook to be advanced for further tightening operation has been released and the chain section between the links 80 and 82 engaged by hooks 52 and 54 is slack, disengagement of hook 52 is quickly and readily accomplished thereby providing for speedy operation with optimum safety to the operator.

In order to release the tension in chain 12, the tightening operation essentially is reversed and assuming the position of the binder components to be as shown in FIGURE 2 but wit-h draw hook 54 engaging chain link 82, lever 16 is swung about yoke pivot axis 42, 44 to the position shown in FIGURE 4 where the tension on draw hook 54 is transferred to draw hook 52. Draw hook 54 is then disengaged from link 82 and lever 16 is swung in a clockwise direction back to its original position.

Referring to FIGURE 1 a safety device is provided on lever 16 for maintaining it in either the FIGURE 2 or FIGURE 4 positions against the accidental release of the over center toggle conditions of FIGURES 2 and 4.

To this end I may make the upper part 18 of lever 16 hollow as with a long slot 118 containing a hollow tube 119. Tube 119 houses a coiled compression spring 121 bearing at its lower end on a plug 122 slidable in the tube. 11kt its upper end spring 121 bears against a fixed tube lip A small diameter flexible chain 124 is secured at its lower end to plug 122 and extends up through the center of spring 121 and out through the tube upper end to terminate in a spring buckle or hook 125.

While the lever 16 is being worked to tighten the chain 12 the hook 125 is maintained within the hollow part of lever 116. When the chain 12 has been tightened to the FIGURE 2 position, the operator reaches into the hollow with his finger to grasp hook 125 and pull it out and around the adjacent section of chain 12 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. This is permitted by chain 124 being drawn out of tube 119. The returned hook 125 is now secured to the chain 124 above the end of tube 119, so that the loop 126, biased by spring 121, holds the lever in its position. The same action is accomplished when the lever 16 is in the lower FIGURE 4 position.

Where the flexible element 12 is a cable, the hooks S0, 52, 54 are replaced by suitable grab hooks or wedge clamps having jaws that grip the cable at the selected region. These hooks or clamps are referred to as attach ment members in the claims.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A load binder device for tightening a flexible retainer about a load comprising: a first hook arranged to be detachably engageable with said flexible retainer near one end thereof, a first flexible unit connected to said first hook and including a yoke member having spaced apart arms, a rigid lever arm having a terminal handle section and a terminal bifurcated shank section extending between the arms of said yoke member, a portion of said shank section being laterally offset to one side of the longitudinal axis of said handle section, means pivotally connecting the shank section of said lever arm to the arms of said yoke member about an axis extending generally normal to the engaged portion of said retainer such that said offset portion of said shank section is swingable between the arms of said yoke member from one side thereof to the opposite side thereof, a second hook arranged to detachably engage said flexible member near the other end thereof, a second flexible unit connected to said second hook, means pivotally connecting said second flexible unit to the ofiset portion of said shank section about an axis extending in parallel spaced apart relationship to said lever arm pivot axis to one side thereof, a third hook arranged to detachably engage with said flexible retainer near the other side thereof, a third flexible unit connected to said third hook, means pivotally connecting said third flexible unit to the offset portion of said shank section in parallel spaced apart relationship to said lever arm pivot axis on the side of said lever arm pivot axis opposite from the pivot axis of said second flexible unit such that a common line extending normal to said pivot axes of said second and third flexible units is laterally offset to one side of said lever arm pivot axis whereby said second and third hooks are alternately and successively advanceable and retractable by pivotal movement of said lever arm in opposite directions, said second and third hooks being arranged to alternately engage successive increments of said flexible retainer for incrementally taking up the slack in said flexible retainer by sequential pivotal displacement of said lever arm in opposite directions, means forming first and second stop abutment surfaces which cooperate with said lever arm to respectively limit pivotal displacement thereof between first and second angularly spaced apart limiting positions, said pivot axes of said second and third flexible units being arranged relative to said lever arm pivot axis such that the torque couple created by the tensioned condition of said flexible retainer and acting on said lever arm when said first hook and either said second or third book are engaged with said flexible retainer is reversed as said lever arm is displaced from one to the other of its limiting positions, the direction of the reversed torque couple being such to urge said lever arm into engagement with one of said stop abutment surfaces to oppose movement of said lever arm in a direction for releasing the tension in said retainer.

2. A load binder for tightening and holding a flexible retainer such as a chain about a load of logs, lumber and the like, comprising a yoke having a bridge and spaced legs extending to an open end, a first fastener flexibly connected to said bridge and adapted for connection to one end of said retainer, a lever having a manual handle portion and a bifurcated shank extending into the open end of said yoke, means pivoting the lever on said yoke at said open end, spaced links flexibly connected respectively to second and third fastener means, means pivoting said links within said lever shank, said pivot connection between the yoke and lever being located on the lever longitudinally between said link pivot connections, said 7 second and third fastener means being adapted for alternate operative detachable connection to the other end of said retainer as said lever is swung between opposite limit positions about its pivot on said yoke, and said yoke, lever and links being so disposed that during said swinging of the lever between limit positions said links are swingable through the legs of said yoke and means for limiting the swing of said lever between said opposite limit positions.

3. In the load binder defined in claim 2, and said means for limiting the swing of said lever comprising cooperating abutment means on said links and lever for arresting pivotal movement of said lever in opposite directions.

a. In the load binder defined in claim 2, the pivotal connections between the lever and said links being so located that in one or the other of the opposite limit positions of said lever the relative disposition one of said links, the lever and said yoke is such as to urge the other I link in a direction tending to further swing the lever to- References Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 259,671 6/1882 Dean 254- 506,254 10/1893 Reed 254-78 665,220 1/ 1901 Hughes 254-76 1,650,328 11/1927 Crumbach et al. 25475 2,824,717 2/1958 Yeager 254'-78 2,937,001 5/ 1960 Johnson.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, JOSEPH STRIZAK,

Examiners. 

2. A LOAD BINDER FOR TIGHTENING AND HOLDING A FLEXIBLE RETAINER SUCH AS A CHAIN ABOUT A LOAD OF LOGS, LUMBER AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A YOKE HAVING A BRIDGE AND SPACED LEGS EXTENDING TO AN OPEN END, A FIRST FASTENER FLEXIBLY CONNECTED TO SAID BRIDGE AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO ONE END OF SAID RETAINER, A LEVER HAVING A MANUAL HANDLE PORTION AND A BIFURCATED SHANK EXTENDING INTO THE OPEN END OF SAID YOKE, MEANS PIVOTING THE LEVER ON SAID YOKE AT SAID OPEN END, SPACED LINKS FLEXIBLY CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SECOND AND THIRD FASTENER MEANS, MEANS PIVOTING SAID LINKS WITHIN SAID LEVER SHANK, SAID PIVOT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE YOKE AND LEVER BEING LOCATED ON THE LEVER LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID LINK PIVOT CONNECTIONS, SAID SECOND AND THIRD FASTENER MEANS BEING ADAPTED FOR ALTERNATE OPERATIVE DETACHABLE CONNECTION TO THE OTHER END OF SAID RETAINER AS SAID LEVER IS SWUNG BETWEEN OPPOSITE LIMIT POSITIONS ABOUT ITS PIVOT ON SAID YOKE, AND SAID YOKE, LEVER AND LINKS BEING SO DISPOSED THAT DURING SAID SWINGING OF THE LEVER BETWEEN LIMIT POSITIONS SAID LINKS ARE SWINGABLE THROUGH THE LEGS OF SAID YOKE AND MEANS FOR LIMITING THE SWING OF SAID LEVER BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE LIMIT POSITIONS. 